Operating mechanism for washing-machines.



Y A. w. HEALEY. OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES.

, APPLICATION FILED MAYR. II, 1915'. RENEWED JULY 25. 1911- 1,240,204, PatentedSept. 18, 191?.

rinrrnn safnjans Parana smea- ABTHUR W. HEALEY, F JAMESTOWN, NORTH DAKOTA.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WASHING -MACHIIFES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 11, 1916, Serial No. 836,621. Renewed July 25'; 1917. Serial No. 182,801.

To all whom it may concern: I

' Be it known thatI, ART UR W. HnArnY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jamestown, ini'the county of Stutsman and a State of North'Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Operating Mechanism for Washing-.Machines, of which the following isa specification, refer-.

ence being had toithe accompanying draw-v wings-g1 v,

n-frThis 1n'vent1on relates to certain improve- "ments in washing apparatus and has relation more particularly to a device of this cable vacuum member is capable of limited $5: yielding movement independently of the positive reciprocation impartedthereto.

' Itis also an object of the invention to I employ in an apparatus of this general character a novel and improved pltman operatively engaged with the. reciprocable -vacuum member and with a source of power, said pitman comprising .a plurality of coacting sections capable of limited relative yieldable movement whereby the downward stroke of the vacuum? member may be momentarily halted without interfering with the operating means for the pitman.

It is a still further object of my invent on to provide a novel and improved wash ng apparatus wherein a reciprocat ng vacuum use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set.

forth. j

The. novel features of the 1nvent1on will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be thei better understood, I'will now proceed to demember is employed and wherein said vacuthe accomratus as herein disclosed;

Fig. 3 is a view partly in top plan and partly in section of the apparatus as herein set forth;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in section setting forth certain details of the pitman as herein ineluded, and r Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 2. Q As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, R- denotes a receptacle or tub of predetermined dimensions and into which the articles to be cleansed are adapted to be placed, the necessary water being delivered within the receptacle from the faucets F, it being my intention in practice to have the receptacle or tub R as a permanent fixture within a dwelling and preferably supported, as illustrated in Fig. 2, by a wall W of a room.

Suitably secured to the wall W.j'at a pre' determined point above the receptacle or tub R, is the outstanding horizontally disposed table'or shelf T having at substantially. its longitudinal center the upstanding bracket B terminating at its upper end in the outwardly directed horizontal arm 1 and hav ing an intermediate vertically disposed bracing web or strip 2,..the forward vertical edge of which being straight, 'as is particularly disclosed in 1 Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings. If preferred the bracket B and its concomitant parts maygbeintegrally pro duced with the table or shelf T.

The free end of the arm 1 is provided with the vertically directed bearing 3 through which is loosely directed for reciprocal 'movement, a rod 4 of predetermined dimensions. and, which also extends through a bear ing 5 carried by the table or shelf T in vertical alinement with the bearing 3 hereinbefore mentioned; The rod 4 is of such a length as -to terminate in close proximity to the bottom 6 of the receptacle or tub B when at the limit of its downward movement, and the lower end of said rod 4 is provided with Patented Sept. is, an. I

too

. tains.

a cross member 7 including diametrically opposed and oppositely directed arms possesslnga certain degree'of inherent resiliency and suitably secured to the free ends ofthe arms of the'cross member 7 are the depending vacuum members 8 herein dis-' closed asof truncate formation and o'perating upon the articles within the receptacle or tub R in a manner which is believed to be clearly apparent to -those skilled in the art to which my presentinvention apper-,

I have found it of especial advantage to have the arms of the cross member 7 possessinga certain degree of resiliency 1n order that the vacuum members 8 may readily compensate for any unevenness in the upper surface aflorded'by the articles tobe cleansed without interfering with the reciprocationtof the rod 4.

. As herein embodied, the bracing web of strip 2 is provided at a predetermined point intermediate its length with the bearing ,9 disposed transversely of the'table or shelf T and in which is rotatably mounted the.

shaft 10 extending beyond the opposite ends thereof, one extremity of said shaft 10 and preferably the outer extremity, having aiiixed .thereto the disk 11 of a ipredetermined radius and provided with the wrist-' pin. 12-with which an extremity of the pit man P is operatively engaged.

In practice I have found it especially advantageousto have the wrist-pin 12 so poment longitudinally of -therod, 4 through the medium of the collars 15- embracing, the-- rod 4 and positioned at opposite sides of the arm 14 and contacting therewith, said col- I lars 15 being preferably secured to the rod sitioned upon the disk 11, relative, to its axis as to result in a stroke ofthe pitman P of approximately nine inches when the device is employed for household purposes,

The rod 4, as herein disclosed, is disposed through an endjporti'onof an .arm '14, said arm being held' against independent move- 4 through the medium of the clamping screws '16 in order that-the rod-4 may be conveniently adjusted longitudinally ofthe rod' 4 as the necessities of practice may dictate. Theupper extremity of thepitman P- is operatively engaged, as at 17, with the arm 14 at a point intermediate the length thereof,

whereby it Will be perceived that as'th'e disk 11 is rotated, the. pitman? will serve to im part the necessary reciprocation to the rod 4.

In order to maintain the arm 14 in proper position, I have the outer orfree'extremity thereof-bifurcated, as at 18, so asto'straddle the straight marginal portion of the. brace or web 2, whereby it will be perceived that said brace or web 2 serves as a guide for'the arm 14 during its reciprocation and serves to efi'ectively hold the arm 14in proper position. I

Any means may be employed for driving acted upon. at a point above the arm14 has airixedthereto the ratchet 30 adapted to rotate in unison.

the shaft 10, but as herein disclosed, the inner extremity of said shaft has affixed thereto the gear wheel 19 which is in mesh with the smaller gear 20 carried bythe counter shaft 2l f5peratively supported by .the bearing 22 mounted in proper positlon upon the table or shelf T. The' counter shaft 21, in the present embodiment of my invention, is-also provided with the pulley 23 of a radius materially in excess of the radius of the gear 20,"and -operatively engaged with the. pulley 23 is the belt 24 orits equivalent which is operatively engaged with a suitable source or power, herein 'disclosed as a conventional motor M mounted upon a supplemental table or shelf S suitably supporte'dby the wallW and preferably in j horizontal alinement with the table or shelf 'T; hereinbefore referred to. The pitman P as herein embodied, comprises two separate sections 25 arranged in,

- alinement and having their adjacent or free extremities in'overlying relation, one of said sections being provided with the longitudinally disposed slot 26 of predetermined by the free end portions of each .of the sec}.

tions 25. v e

By this arrangement it will be perceived that-the reciprocation of the rod 4 may be momentarily halted without interfering with therotation of the disk 11 as especially when the rod 4 or more particularly the vacuum members 8 carried thereby, has reached the limit of its downward movement by contacting with the articles within the recep- V tacle or tub R to be cleansed. It will also be perceived that as'the rod 4 moves upwjardly or outwardly, the member 28- will serve to automatically return the'sections 25 to the limit of'theiroutward movements.

It isalso ofespecial importance that the position of the members Bbe varied in a horizontal plane relative-to the receptacle or tub R in order that the articles therein to be cleansed may be thoroughly and properly As herein disclosed, the rod 4 therewith but permitting longitudinal movement of the rod- 4 independently of the ratchet 30; As is particularly shown in Fig. 1, the ratchet 30 is provided with,a sleeve 31 which extends through the bearing 3 and has secured to its upper extremity the' support mediate its length as at 38, for rocking movement in a ,direction toward or from the ratchet 30, and the lower extremity of the arm 37 is suitably inclined .and is provided with the anti-friction roller 39 coacting with the cam l0 carriedby the adjacent face of the disk 11 mally maintained in contact with the ratchet 30 and the lower extremity of the arm or lever-3T, or more particularly the anti-friction roller-39 is normally held in contact with the cam i0 through the medium of the retractile member l1 herein disclosed as conventional coil spring interposed between and suitably anchored to the dog or pawl 35 and the horizontal arm 1 of the bracket B.

It is also to be noted that the cam 40 is of such formation as to impart intermediate axial movement to the rod d during the period said rod is approaching the limit of its upward movement and during the period of its initial movement in a downward direction so that no interference will be of fered to the intermittentrotation of the rod L by contact of the vacuum members 8 with the articlesto be cleansed within the receptacle or tub It.

It is to be noted that the receptacle or tub R has in communication therewith through the bottohn thereof, a conventional drain pipe 42, saidpipe daring the'op'eration of my apparatus being closedin any conventional manner.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that an apparatus con: structed in accordance with my invention is e of an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenicnce and facility with which it may be assembled, and it will also be obvious that .my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without material departure from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my in-' vention in practice.

I- claim: 1. In combination, a member mounted for The pawl or dog is nor reciprocation and for rotation, a driven disk, a ratchet adaptedto-rotate in unison with the member but permittingreciprocation of, the member independently thereof, a rod mounted intermediate its length for rocking movement, a pawl carried by one end of the rod and coacting with the ratchet, and. a cam carried by a face of the disk and coacting with the opposite extremity of the lever whereby the ratchet is intermittently rotated.

2. In combination, a member mounted for reciprocation and for rotation, a driven disk, a ratchet adapted to rotate in unison with the member but permitting reciprocation of the member independently thereof, a rod mounted intermediate its length for rocking movement, a pawl carried by one end of the rod and coacting with the ratchet. a. cam carried a face of the disk and coacting with the'opposite extremity of the lever whereby the ratchet is intermittently 1o tated, and a. spring coaoting with the pawl for holding the same in Constant contact with the ratchet and .for holding the lever in constant contact with the cam carried by the disk.

In combination, a member mounted for reciprocation and for rotation, a driven disk, a ratchet adapted to rotate in unison with the member but permitting reciprocation of the member independently thereof, a rod mounted intermediate its length for rocking movement, a pawl carried by one end of the rod and coaeting with the ratchet, a cam carried by a face of the disk and coacting with the opposite extremity of the lever whereby the ratchetis intermittently rotated, and an operative connection between the disk and the member whereby said member may be reciprocated during the rotation of the disk. v v at. In combination, a member mounted for reciprocating movement, an arm loosely carried by said member, means for holding the arm against independent movement longitudinally of the member, a guide oacting with the arm for holding the arm against rocking movement relative to the reciprocating member, a driven disk, and a pitman operativly engaged with the disk andthe arm ata point intermediate the member and the guide.

In testnnony whereof I hereunto allix my \V. E. Lawson, C. M. FoRRns'r. 

